The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1887-05-26
GARLAND.
The Attorney General Talks
Freely Concerning the Va
cant Judgeship.
Says He Desires no More Pub
lie Office After His Pres
ent Term.

WASHINGTON, May 2i-Attorney General Gar
land to-day talked freely with representative of
the Associated Psess concerning his supposed
candidacy for the vacant position on the supreme
bench. After saying 81 do not want the place,
and would not take 1t If offered me- Mr.. Gar
land set forth his reasons as follows:
81 do not" said he, "nndervaue the place, 1t
has work and responsibility enough to test
and honor sufficient fol the most ambitious. When
the last two appointments for the supreme court
were made my name was conspeciousy mentioned
by persons OF both parties for selection. AT that
time would readily have accepted such position,
and did not hesitate to say so. Bat | was
younger by several years, and my health
tnere %qsh %Ss better peFo than %sn,v TaSS
between my age and that fixed for retiring, and my
health WAS unimpaired. Now that period is only
fifteen years, and my constitution is worn and en-
feebled by severe attacks that came upon me in
March, 1886. The duties of the office of justice of
the supreme court are 40 important and eXacting
that l feel 1t is due the public service
other c things being equal who enters upon their
performance should have fair and reasonable
prospect of twenty years of active unbroken labor
before reaching the age named by law for retiring
The work done in that court lasts for all the years
to come and goes far to mould and fashion our in
stitutons to make and execute the laws as we may.
/ could not even indulge the hope of having fifteen
work, and Iwould be untrue to duty to accept such
O trust
With this fact staring me In the face, besides
some months after the two appointments referred
to were made, was elected by the legislature of
Arkansas to the United States senate for a second
time, and formed the resolution to retire from
public life and public place at the end of that term
which will expire with the closing of this admins
tration, and have 30 shaped my affairs as to carry
out this resolution, which becomes the more i'm.
portant as the time approaches
This resolution six month since reported sub
stantiay to my friends In Arkansas by letter that
was published touching my running again for the
United States senate, and will say that the Ar
kansas representation has known for nearly or quite
two years past, of this determination on my part,
as well as some other particular personal friends
of mine.n
"May ask you, then, if the president knows of
thisg"
"Yes generally and particularly. Generally, for
he has heard me say fatty, more than year since,
place after this, and on the 3d of February last he
asked me to take place on the interstate
commerce commission, which l declined,
repeating positively this determination
on my part, that wanted and would have no other
public place, but that ae soon as / could decently
do 30, (the day after Justice Woods was bured), |
told him my name was being used In this connec-
wish the place and would not have it, and repeated
again my resolution as to public office and wished
him to proceed to consider his action on the ques-
ton as If he never had heard of me.n
"Then, as you are out of the matter, who, may
inquire will get it?"
81 have not the remotest idea"
"Do you know when the appointment Will be
made"
"G do not, as have had no talk with the presi-
dent, beyond making to him the statement as to
myself already referred to, with the reasons there
for which have given you"